The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!
Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.
Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.
Job Posting End Date:
10-07-2026
Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.
Pupil Personnel Workers (PPWs) support schools in identifying and addressing the factors that may interfere with students’ adjustment to the school environment and their academic success. Using a collaborative approach, PPWs work closely with school staff, families, and community agencies to coordinate services for students and their families. PPWs assess student and family needs through a comprehensive case management process that may include record reviews, home visits, parent conferences, and the development of social histories. They serve as advocates for students and families, ensuring they are informed about relevant rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Pupil Personnel Workers collaborate with school staff, parents/guardians, and students to address a range of issues including attendance, academic support, social-emotional challenges, counseling needs, residency concerns, guardianship, enrollment challenges, homelessness, and foster care placement.
Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.
Priority will be given to applicants who:
Applicants may be considered who:
Out-of-state applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the application process for educator licensure with the Maryland State Department of Education in addition to uploading all required materials to your HCPSS employment application.
The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
The list below is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.
The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.
Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental application questions section of the application.
Describe your experience supporting students and families in a school system or student services setting, including situations involving barriers such as attendance concerns, family instability, or crisis. What was your role, what actions did you take, and what was the outcome?
Describe your experience working within a school-based team or program (e.g., SST student services team, school improvement team, afterschool or similar) to support students. What was your role, and how did your actions contribute to addressing student needs or improving outcomes?
Describe a time you worked with individuals or agencies outside of your school or immediate team to support a student or family. What was your role in coordinating support, and what was the result?
Describe a complex situation where a student or family required ongoing support across multiple needs or systems. How did you manage the situation over time, and what progress or outcome was achieved?
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.
This is an 11-month per year position in the Howard County Educators Association (HCEA) employee bargaining unit. The current salary range for this position is on the Other Certificated Staff salary scale. Actual placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA Master Agreement which considers education and relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime.
Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.
HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.
Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.
All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.
Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.
For questions regarding this posting, please contact (Jackita Moore, jackita_moore@hcpss.org) OR humanresources@hcpss.org.
To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org.
HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Howard County, Maryland is a suburban community of more than 330,000 situated midway along the Baltimore-Washington corridor. It is a county of contrasts — a blend of old and new, urban and rural, historical and progressive. The county’s borders encompass Ellicott City, one of the country’s oldest towns, and Columbia, a planned community conceived and designed more than 55 years ago by The Rouse Company.
A great community deserves great schools, and the Howard County Public School System is a recognized source of local pride. The school system consistently ranks among Maryland’s top school districts based on student performance on state assessments. Howard County students score above the national averages on standardized tests.
